Nova moved with practiced care, keeping his movements slow and deliberate. "Watch closely," he told Sar, placing a hand on Millie's forehead. The glowing chains followed his guidance as he eased her down to the marble floor.

Two fingers pressed against her neck, checking her pulse while his essence flowed through her body. Just like with the governor's granddaughter, he sensed the void entity twist away from his probing energy.

"First, the silver." Nova arranged the coins in a line down Millie's chest. Her muscles tensed immediately, drawing tight beneath her skin.

His hands traced patterns in the air, weaving a complex formation on the floor around her small form.

[You have learned the skill: Spirit Lock (Master - 31%) {Grade 6}]

[A formation that traps formless beings inside its borders. Forcefully escaping will cause damage to the being, and in most cases, end in destruction.]

"The formation is called Spirit Lock. It prevents anything from escaping." Nova glanced at Sar. "You could achieve the same effect with iron nails arranged in a circle, with the points facing inward."

Sar wrote his words in a small notebook she had retrieved from her robe, eagerly following the process. Her eyes lingered on the formation, trying to take it in, but then she sighed and returned her focus to the notes.

Nova closed his eyes, focusing on an image of pure moonlight streaming through clouds. Essence flowed from his palms into the silver coins. The metal began to glow with a soft white radiance as its celestial properties awakened.

Nova's voice took on a commanding tone as he spoke in an ancient language that seemed to make the air shiver. Millie's essence started reacting to the language while the silver coins pulsed with increasing intensity.

Millie's body went rigid. Her face contorted in pain as muscle spasms wracked her frame. A choking sound emerged from her throat, followed by tendrils of black smoke that tried to escape the formation's bounds.

Nova's hands clapped together, and the silver light exploded upward in a pillar. The tendril screamed—a sound like glass shattering underwater—as the celestial energy tore it from Millie's body and scattered it to nothing.

[You have learned the skill: Celestial Banishment (Expert - 45%) {Grade 7}]

[A powerful invocation that attacks formless beings with concentrated celestial energy.]

His fingers returned to her neck, counting the beats. After a moment, he nodded in satisfaction. "She's fine now. The entity is gone." He gathered the coins, noticing how the silver had turned black with soot where it touched her skin. "And this piece won't be coming back."

"Amazing!" Annelie cheered, watching Millie's colors return to her face. Then her language shifted to the one Nova just spoke in the invocation. "Didn't know you spoke the old language."

"I'm far from fluent," Nova replied, dismissing the glowing formations around Millie's body with a wave.

Millie's eyes fluttered open, staring blankly at the ceiling while she drew ragged breaths. Her face crumpled as her breathing quickened. Tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks.

Nova leaned over and pulled her into his arms. "It's okay, Millie." He kept his voice soft and steady. "You're safe now. I'm here."

"Nova!" The word burst from her like a sob before her tears overwhelmed her ability to speak. Her arms locked around him with inhuman strength, but Nova didn't even flinch. Her whole body trembled against him, still fighting the memory of the cold void that had invaded her mind.

With practiced grace, he lifted her from the cold marble floor. Her feet found purchase as he guided her upright. Then, he walked her toward the bed. They tumbled together onto the mattress, letting the soft covers envelop them both.

Millie pressed her face into his shoulder, muffling her quiet sobs. Nova could feel her heart racing, gradually slowing as she realized she was truly safe.

'I've got you, little one. Nothing will hurt you while I'm here.'

Sar walked over to the edge of the bed, wearing a more tender expression than usual. "... Will I need to speak the same words you used for the effect to work?"

"Yeah." Nova shifted to let Millie rest more comfortably against him. "And you need to envision the moonlight as you infuse the silver with essence. Any restraining formation will work, but it's better if the possessed lie on their back."

Sar's quill scratched across the paper as she flipped to a fresh page. "And what were the words again?"

Nova strained his throat, attempting to recreate the ancient syllables. The words felt clumsy on his tongue—it had been centuries since he'd spoken the old language regularly.

"Actually, it's more like this." Annelie spoke the phrase with fluid grace. "La'thz koreg szhi sh'mael."

Her pronunciation flowed naturally, showing years of practice. "What level of mastery did you get with that attempt?" she asked Nova.

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"Expert." Nova shrugged. "It's probably lower due to the language, yeah."

"Lower?" Sar asked, like she found his words hard to believe. "Expert is lower than expected?" Her gaze shifted to Annelie. "And what are you doing here, Animo?"

"I slept with Nova!" Annelie announced brightly.

"... Really? Are you collecting little girls, Nova?" Sar asked, furrowing her brows a bit too much.

Nova didn't meet her eyes, instead staring at Annelie as he replied, keeping a straight face. "Yeah, I sure am. What's it to ya?"

"Nothing, I guess." Sar turned her attention back to Annelie. "Animo, where did you learn that strange language?"

"Book!" Annelie bounced on her toes. "It was great at explaining how to pronounce words!"

"I see." Sar's voice softened with concern. "Watch out so you don't get buried under all those books, you hear? It's good to read, but too much of anything can be bad."

"I'll be careful." Annelie bowed her head respectfully, but as soon as her face was hidden from Sar's view, she shot Nova a playful wink.

'You haven't lost that mischievous streak, I see… That's good.'

Sar tucked the notebook back into her robes. "Well, I need to get out of here." She glanced between them. "You guys will stay safe here, right? No looking at the rift?"

"We want to help!" Annelie stepped forward eagerly, speaking for both of them.

"Oh yeah?" Sar's eyes fixed on Nova. "You too?"

Nova stroked Millie's hair absently. "I'll need to think about it. You can go ahead, Sar. We might join you after discussing it."

"I figured." Sar smoothed her robes. "I'll be in the main hall, Animo. The cardinals will need to hear about this method."

Annelie glanced at Nova with confusion before nodding to Sar. "Sure, I'll be there soon."

The door clicked shut behind Sar, leaving the young trio alone in sudden silence.

Annelie stepped closer to the bed, still looking at the door. "It's unlike you not wanting to help, Nova."

"... We should discuss the church." Nova's voice turned grave.

"What? You don't think they're worth helping?"

"I would be fine with the church disappearing today." Nova's fingers tightened slightly in Millie's hair. "And I say that with good reason."

"What reason?"

Nova changed his language to that of the New World, preventing Millie from understanding. "Do you know where me and Millie came from? We were born in a dungeon, forced to live in a box for our entire lives, only fed to be killed when our souls completed! Two thousand of us!"

"W-What?" The color drained from Annelie's face.

"And that's only in one city!" Nova's words burned with barely contained fury. "One city in a country of hundreds, exploiting the system for their own gain! The church maintains the system, enabling the disgusting harvesting of children! They protect talents and claim righteousness, but they're the reason talents are killed in the first place!"

Annelie stared at Millie's small form cradled in Nova's arms. "What kind of... How can they justify that?"

"Order. That is how the world has survived for many millennia." Nova's voice dripped with venom. "Those were the words of the Signus. And when I talked of justice, he practically spat in my face."

"That's… Hmm…" Annelie slumped onto the edge of the bed. Her eyes fixed on the floor as silence filled the room. Finally, she looked up. "I understand. The church is the wrong side to fight for in this world. They're rigid and uncaring."

Nova breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you trust me that much. And that we see eye to eye."

"I only recently came here." Annelie met his gaze firmly. "Don't go thinking I'd pick them over you. I probably never would."

"That's... that's great to hear, Annelie." Nova's voice softened. "Thanks." He shifted Millie to a more comfortable position. "Don't get me wrong, though; I'm not against helping them. I just need them to think I really don't want to, so I can get something in return."

"Oh. That's clever!" Annelie's voice rose as she understood his intentions. "Do you have a plan?"

"No, but I'm sure my immunity to madness will be useful to them. They'll find a way to use me, and they'll pay me what I ask."

A knowing smile spread across Annelie's face. "And you'll use their payment to save the children in those dungeons?"

"Of course." Nova glanced toward the window, still covered with the blanket. "I don't know how far I can push them with their 'no interfering with nations' rule, but I'll find the limit."

"Can I help?" Annelie leaned forward eagerly.

"I don't know. What's your plan after this?"

"I want to help you!" Annelie bounced on the edge of the bed. "But if staying here and climbing the church ranks would work better, I can do that too."

"What are you saying?" Millie lifted her head from Nova's shoulder, blinking sleepily. Her eyes were still red, but the tears and snot had been wiped on Nova's robe.

Nova gave her a gentle squeeze. "Hey, Millie. We're just discussing some things in a secret language, so no one can spy on us."

"Can I learn it?" Millie sat up straighter, suddenly alert.

"Of course!" Nova smiled down at her. "But it's going to take a while. Just listen for now, okay? Try to pick up the tones and the flow."

"Okay." Millie settled back against his chest.

Annelie beamed at Millie, then switched to their old language. "She's so precious."

"Right?" Nova's arms tightened around Millie slightly. "We became quite close while growing up. She acted as sort of a spokesperson for the other children when they needed me. Always putting on a brave face when she was awake. Less so during the nights, when I had to comfort her."

He sighed deeply. "Then she completed her soul. And had an accident…"

"What kind of accident?"

"The bad kind… She created a spell that used all her essence, causing an explosion. Two other children died."

Annelie pressed a hand to her mouth, speechless.

"This was just days ago." Nova stared at the wall. "I was gone at that time, so she was sent to the church by a good friend of mine. The only way she could survive, probably."

"Oh my god…" Annelie's voice trembled. "No wonder she seems so sad…"

Nova studied her distressed face. "Do you also have a soft spot for children, or have you kept that empathy through all your lives?"

'I remember you always being kind-hearted, even after everything you went through. But self-pity, that wasn't a thing to you.'

"... A bit of both?" She pulled her legs up onto the bed. "I try to see the good in everyone, or at least what made them that way. It doesn't excuse their actions, but understanding helps. And children..." A soft smile crossed her face. "They deserve to be protected from the worlds they're born into."

Nova nodded, feeling warmth spreading through his chest. "A very good answer. I might be less understanding than you, but I usually see why people act like they do."

"I don't understand anything!" Millie flopped onto her back with a dramatic sigh. "It's all just weird!"

Nova and Annelie both burst out laughing at her outburst. Annelie leaned over and brushed some hair from Millie's forehead. "You'll get there in time, Millie. It's hard to learn so that others don't figure it out."

"... I wanna be in the secret club."

"It takes a long time to learn a language," Nova said, patting her forearm. "But you're clever, so I'm sure you'll manage in a year or two."

She simply responded with a groan.

Nova chuckled lightly as he stood from the bed, stretching his arms overhead until his joints popped. "Let's see what the church is up to, then."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.